In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Since its passage, more than $130 million have been provided to the states to fund programs that assist victims of domestic violence and train law enforcement officers on how to respond to domestic violence calls. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), VAWA has helped reduce the rate of domestic violence. Between 1993 and 1997, the rate of intimate partner violence fell from 9.8 to 7.5 per 1,000 women. The act was up for renewal in 2000.

For its advocates, VAWA is an essential tool in responding to domestic violence. NCADV argues that, while domestic violence rates have dropped since the law was passed, the problem still persists. Moreover, Patricia Ireland, the president of the National Organization for Women, asserts that VAWA is just one of the tools needed to ensure that women are safe. She observes...